Easier to Wear Shoes and Associated Methods

ABSTRACT

A shoe that contains two zippers or two series of hook and loop strips as well as two tongues is disclosed. The zippers or two series of hook and loop strips are positioned in the location where one would typically see the eyelets from shoes located. The two tongues are present both for comfort and for aesthetics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is believed that the first shoes were first worn by hominids around 40,000 years ago. Sandals throughout the history of mankind have probably been the most common type of shoe. However, the first shoes consistently worn by Homo sapiens were in Mesopotamia between the years of 1200-1600 BC. These shoes were soft shoes made of wrap around leather, and were similar to moccasins. Early shoes in this period were worn by those people who were of the upper class while the poor and slaves tended to go barefoot.

Foot bound shoes were popular in some of the Asian countries around 1100 and rounded toes were commonly found on shoes around 1450. In around 1500, square-toed shoes were popular with the elite during the Renaissance period in Europe, which was a signifier of both wealth and power.

As time progressed in the European baroque period, the upper class tended to wear shoes that had heels that were made of wood whereas the working class had heavy black leather heels

In the 18^(th) century, fabric shoes were all the rage. Shoe laces and eyelets to contain the shoe laces were added to shoes around 1790 in England. It was discovered that with the addition of shoe laces that in order to protect the feet, tongues were added to shoes. Tongues also made the shoes easier to put on and take off as the tongue is attached at the throatline of the quarter and/or vamp of the shoe but is not attached to the quarter and/or vamp where eyelets typically reside. That is the tongue is attached to the shoe at the bottom of the tongue but at no other place. With most shoes, when the laces are loosened, the tongue's design allows the shoe opening to be sufficiently large so that a foot can fit easily into (or alternatively, be easily removed from) a shoe. In the early 1800s, shoemakers began to differentiate between men's and women's shoes. Boots and cloth topped shoes also were popular during this period.

Until around 1850, shoes were made straight as that there was no differentiation between a left shoe and a right shoe. It was found that by differentiating between a right footed shoe and a left footed shoe, the shoes became more comfortable as they were designed to fit on the respective foot for which the shoe was designed.

In 1851, Elias Howe received a US Patent on an Automatic, Continuous Clothing Closure, which was one of the forerunners to the zipper. However, Howe did not use it because he was focused more on his lockstitch sewing machine. Accordingly, it wasn't until 1893 that a forerunner to the zipper made its product debut at the World's fair in Chicago. Being familiar with the work of his predecessors, the modern day zipper was really developed by Swede Gideon Sundback in 1913.

Zippers have been periodically added to shoes allowing the shoe wearer to more easily get into and out of these shoes when the zipper is unzipped. To the inventor's knowledge, no shoe has ever contained more than one zipper per shoe.

Technological changes in the 20^(th) century meant the shoes could be made more easily and mass produced, thereby leading to drastic changes in shoe design. After World War 2, women's shoes were made to highlight the foot by adding arches to the shoe and by adding narrower heels.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoe that contains at least two zippers or at least two hook and loop strips and at least two tongues. In one embodiment, the shoe has two zippers and two tongues. In another embodiment, the shoe has two hook and loop (e.g., VELCRO, London, United Kingdom) strips and two tongues. The two zippers or the two hook and loop strips are positioned on the shoe at the forward most position of the shoe quarter and/or vamp, where eyelets typically reside. In an embodiment, each of the zippers or hook and loop strips is positioned vertically a) where the eyelets for the inside of each shoe typically are found and b) where the eyelets for the outside of each shoe are typically found. For the sake of explanation, the zippers will be referred to as the inner zipper and the outer zipper, and the hook and loop strips will be referred to as the inner hook and loop strip and the outer hook and loop strip, respectively. The two tongues are positioned so that an inner tongue resides close to and abuts the foot of a shoe wearer and an outer tongue resides over the front portion of the shoe quarter and/or vamp and essentially on top of the inner tongue. In an embodiment, the outer tongue is attached to the shoe by the inner zipper and outer zipper, or alternatively by the inner hook and loop strip and the outer hook and loop strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a perspective top down view of an embodiment of the shoe with the inner zipper and outer zipper zipped up.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective top down view of an embodiment of the shoe with the inner zipper and outer zipper unzipped.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective top down view of an embodiment of the shoe with the inner zipper and outer zipper unzipped and the inner tongue coming out of the shoe.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective top down view of an embodiment of the shoe with the series of inner hook and loop strips and the outer series of hook and loop strips detached from each other. That is, the receiving hook and loop strips on the outside surface of the quarter and/or vamp of the shoe are apart from the other hook and loop strips on the inner surface of the outer tongue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoe that contains at least two zippers or at least two hook and loop strips and at least two tongues. In one embodiment, the shoe has two zippers and two tongues. In another embodiment, the shoe has two series of hook and loop (e.g., VELCRO, London, United Kingdom) strips and two tongues. In an embodiment, the two zippers or the two series of hook and loop strips are positioned on the shoe at the forward most position of the shoe quarter and/or vamp, where eyelets typically reside. In an embodiment, each of the zippers or the series of hook and loop strips is positioned vertically a) where the eyelets for the inside of each shoe typically are found and b) where the eyelets for the outside of each shoe are typically found. For the sake of explanation, the zippers will be referred to as the inner zipper and the outer zipper, and the series of hook and loop strips will be referred to as the series of inner hook and loop strip and the series of outer hook and loop strip, respectively. The inner zipper is positioned on the side of the shoe where the instep is positioned and the series of inner hook and loop strips are also found on the side of the shoe where the instep is positioned. The outer zipper and the series of outer hook and loop strips are on the other side of the shoe (away from the instep). The two tongues are positioned so that an inner tongue resides close to and abuts the foot of a shoe wearer and an outer tongue resides over the front portion of the shoe quarter and/or vamp and essentially on top of the inner tongue. In an embodiment, the outer tongue is at least partially attached to the shoe by the inner zipper and outer zipper, or alternatively by the series of inner hook and loop strips and the series of outer hook and loop strips.

A series of hook and loop strips refers to two strips, a first strip that is positioned on a surface of a shoe and a second strip that is positioned on a complementary surface of a shoe. For example, the first hook and loop strip may be positioned on the inner surface of an outer tongue and the complementary second hook and loop strip may be positioned on the outer surface of a vamp and/or quarter that is positioned so that the first strip and the second strip can be attached to each other.

It has been found that having two zippers or a series of two hook and loop strips as well as two tongues provides the shoes with advantages over shoes that may have only one zipper, one hook and loop strip and/or one tongue. The two zippers and two hook and loops strips allow the shoe to be “opened” more than a shoe that has merely one zipper or one hook and loop strip, thereby providing a wearer with easier access to put on the shoe. When the two zippers are zipped up or the hook and loop strips are connected together the shoe will fit snugly on the wearer's foot. Two tongues are advantageous over a shoe that has one for several reasons. One advantage is that there is better comfort for the wearer as the inner tongue (the one closer to the foot) cushions the wearer's foot so that any zipper is not felt on the user's foot. The outer tongue may in one embodiment be used for aesthetic purposes so that the shoe has a more pleasing look to it. In this variation, the outer tongue may hide the zippers and or series of hook and loop strips so that the zippers and/or series of hook and loop strips are not visible to an observer. This gives the shoes an aesthetically pleasing streamlined look.

In general, the series of hook and loop strips are distinct strips that are positioned so that one of a hook and loop strips can contact another hook and loop strip so that the two strips can attach to each other when they are pressed against each other. It should be noted that when two series of hook and loop strips are referenced, that means that there are four individual distinct strips, wherein two of the strips are positioned so that they can contact and attach to each other and the other two strips are positioned so that they can contact and attach to each other. Thus, a first strip may be positioned on the inside surface of an outer tongue and the complementary second strip (i.e., the first strip binds the second strip) may be positioned on an outer surface of a vamp and/or quarter of the shoe or alternatively on the outside of another surface on a part of a shoe that allows the first strip and the second strip to attach to each other.

The invention will be described now with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, there is an inner zipper 1 and an outer zipper 2, the inner zipper 1 being positioned on the side of the shoe where the instep of the wearer is located and the outer zipper 2 being positioned on the side where the outside of the foot is. Both the inner zipper 1 and the outer zipper 2 comprise collectively elements, tape, and a slider 9. Elements are the teeth of a zipper that get zipped up and tape is generally a fabric that has the elements on it. There is also an inner tongue 3 and an outer tongue 4 on the shoe, the inner tongue being present to prevent the inner zipper and outer zipper from contacting the wearer's foot. That is the inner tongue 3 is positioned to be between the zipper and the wearer's foot. The outer tongue 4 in an embodiment, is operationally connected (attached) to the inner zipper and outer zipper so that when they are unzipped the outer tongue is free to be moved in an outwardly direction so that a wearer's foot can more easily access (and fit inside) the shoe. When the inner zipper and outer zipper are zipped up so that the shoe is closed, the wearer's foot remains snugly inside the shoe and the foot cannot be easily removed from the shoe. A closing of a shoe refers to the act of zipping zippers up so that a foot that resides in the shoe is taut against the foot or the series of hook and loop strips are attached together so that the shoe is taut against the wearer's foot.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the shoe with the inner zipper 1 and outer zipper 2 unzipped so that the inner tongue 3 is more easily visible. Because the outer tongue 4 is operationally connected to the inner zipper 1 and the outer zipper 2, when the inner zipper and outer zipper are unzipped, the outer tongue can be moved in an outwardly direction so that a wearer's foot can be more easily placed in the shoe. In an embodiment, the inner tongue 3 may be operationally attached on the sides of the inner tongue 3 to the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe. Alternatively (and as shown in FIG. 3), the sides of the inner tongue 3 may be detached from the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe. The width of the inner tongue may be greater than the width of the opening where the outer tongue 4 and inner tongue 3 reside meaning that at least a portion of the inner tongue 3 is below the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe. In the instance where at least a portion of the inner tongue 3 is below the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe, the inner tongue 3 fits snugly against the foot on the inside of the inner tongue 3 and the outer surface of the inner tongue 3 abuts the inner surface of the outer tongue when the outer tongue has both the inner zipper 1 and the outer zipper 2 zipped.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a shoe with both the inner tongue 3 and the outer tongue 4 seen in a position that allows easy access of a foot of a wearer to put on the shoe. Both the inner tongue and outer tongue are shown as being essentially outside the plane of the quarter and/or vamp 5 and throat of the shoe thereby providing easy access for the foot of a wearer to insert the wearer's foot into the shoe. Once the wearer's foot is in the shoe, the inner tongue 3 can be inserted in the shoe into a plane below the quarter and/or vamp and throat of the shoe adjacent to and abutting the wearer's foot. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the inner and outer zipper are shown so that when the zipper is zipped up, the slider 9 resides near the top of the shoe. That is the zipper zips up in an upwardly direction. Although not shown, it should be understood that the zippers may be positioned so that zipping occurs in the opposite direction. That is, the inside zipper and the outside zipper when zipped, may be closed when the slider is

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a shoe with inner series of hook and loop strips 7 comprising a first inner hook and loop strip 7A on the inner surface of the outer tongue and a second inner hook and loop strip 7B on the outer surface of the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe. The shoe also comprises shoe an outer series of hook and loop strips 8 comprising a first inner hook and loop strip 8A on the inner surface of the outer tongue and a second outer hook and loop strip 8B on the outer surface of the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe. The inner series of hook and loop strips 7 are positioned on the same side of the shoe as the instep and the outer series of hook and loop strips 8 are positioned on the side opposite the instep side of the shoe. The inner tongue 3, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, does not have any hook and loop attached to it and is merely present to serve as cushioning between the quarter and/or vamp (that contains the hook and loop 8) of the shoe and the wearer's foot. In this embodiment, it can be seen that the quarter and/or vamp 5 is of a size that there is sufficient inner hook and loop strips 8 for the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe to connect to the outer hook and loop strips 7 on the inner side of the outer tongue 4. In this embodiment, there is only a small gap 6 present in the quarter and/or vamp of the shoe so that the inner tongue 3 can be seen. This gap 6 allows the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe to move so that a wearer's foot can more easily be inserted into the shoe. The inner tongue can be moved to a plane that is outside the shoe because the quarter and/or vamp of the shoe contains this gap 6.

The hook and loop strips can be added to a shoe by any of a number of ways. The strips may be sewed to the shoe. Alternatively, they may be glued to the shoe. If the hook and loop is glued to the shoe, a heat bonded glue is a preferred method of attaching the hook and loop strips to the shoes. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the strips may be both sewed and glued to the shoe. Although the hook and loop strips are shown in FIG. 4 as being substantially rectangular is shape, it should be understood that other arrangements of the hook and loop strips may be used. For example, the hook and loop sections may be circular in shape, or alternatively square in shape. Moreover, more than one section of hook and loop strips may be used. In all embodiments, the hook and loop strip attached on an inner surface should be at least roughly the same shape as the receiving hook and loop strip attached to the outer surface of the shoe. In an embodiment, the hooks may be entirely on one hook and loop strip and the loops may be on the complementary hook and loop strip. That is, if the hooks are on one strip the complementary receptive strip possesses the loops that allow the two strips to be attached together. In an embodiment, the hooks are all positioned on a hook and loop strip, which is on the quarter and/or vamp of the shoe. In an embodiment, the loops are all positioned on a hook and loop strip, which is positioned on the quarter and/or vamp of the shoe. In an embodiment, the hooks are all positioned on a hook and loop strip that is positioned on the inside of the outer tongue. In an embodiment, the loops are all positioned on a hook and loop strip that is positioned on the inside of the outer tongue.

In addition to the series of hook and loop strips that are shown in FIG. 4 there may additionally be hook and loop strips elsewhere on the shoe. For example, there may be a hook and loop strip on the back 10 of the shoe or positioned elsewhere on the quarter and/or vamp 5 of the shoe.

In an embodiment, the shoe may have one or more zippers in addition to one and more hook and loop strips. For example, the shoe may have an inner zipper and an outer hook and loop series of strips. Alternatively, the shoe may have an outer zipper and an inner hook and loop series of strips. In an alternative embodiment, the shoe may have both and inner and outer zipper and a series of hook and loop strips on a different location on the shoe. Alternatively, the shoe may have an inner and outer series of hook and loop strips and a zipper that is somewhere else on the shoe.

In another embodiment, the shoe that comprises two or more zippers and/or the two or more series of hook and loop strips may in one embodiment also contain eyelets and laces that allow the shoe to be tightened more by the laces. The laces in an embodiment may be present on these shoes under an outer tongue so that the laces cannot be seen by an observer.

In an embodiment, the shoe that comprises two or more zippers or the two or more series of hook and loop strips may be made of any material that shoes are typically made of including leather, canvas, fake leather, suede, plastic, rubber, or some other petrochemical derived material. The zippers may be made of plastic or metal or any other material of which zippers are typically made.

In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a shoe that comprises at least two tongues and at least two means of closing the shoe, said two means of closing the shoe comprising at least two zippers or at least two series of hook and loop strips. In a variation, the at least two zippers comprise an inner zipper and an outer zipper, the inner zipper are positioned on an inner side of a quarter and/or vamp of a shoe and the outer zipper being positioned on the outer side of the quarter and/or vamp of the shoe, with both the inner zipper and the outer zipper being positioned in a direction where eyelets on a shoe typically reside.

In an embodiment, the first series of hook and loop strips are positioned on an inner side of the shoe and a second series of hook and loop strips being positioned on an outer side of the shoe, the inner side of the shoe being on a side that is a side where an instep of a wearer is and the outer side of the shoe being on a side of the shoe where an outside of a foot is each of the first series of hook and loops strips and the second series of hook and loop strips being positioned in a location and direction where eyelets on a shoe typically reside.

In an embodiment, the inner zipper and the outer zipper are positioned substantially vertically. By positioned substantially vertically, it means that the inner zipper and outer zipper are in the direction of and would overlay eyelets in shoes were they to have eyelets (with laces that go through the eyelets).

In an embodiment, the inner zipper and the outer zipper each have a slider, elements, and a tape and when the inner zipper and outer zipper are zipped, the slider is near a top of the shoe. In a variation, the inner zipper and the outer zipper have a slider, elements, and a tape and when the inner zipper and outer zipper are zipped, the slider is near a bottom of the shoe.

In an embodiment, the shoe further comprises an additional zipper, which is at a back of the shoe.

In an embodiment, the hooks are present on a first hook and loop strip and loops are present on a second hook and loop strip, the first hook and loop strip and the second hook and loop strip positioned so that the first hook and loop strip and the second hook and loop strip attach to each other when pressed together.

In an embodiment, the first series of hook and loop strips comprise a first hook and loop strip and a second hook and loop strip wherein the first hook and loop strip is on an inner surface of an outer tongue and the second hook and loop strip is on an outer surface of a vamp and/or quarter of the shoe.

In an embodiment, the slider and elements are made of metal or plastic.

In an embodiment, the shoe comprises an additional zipper or an additional series of hook and loop strips. In an embodiment, the shoe further comprises the additional zipper.

In an embodiment, the additional zipper is positioned at a back of the shoe. In an embodiment, the shoe further comprises an additional series of hook and loop strips. In an embodiment, the shoe may have both one or more zippers and one or more series of hook and loop strips.

In an embodiment, the at least two tongues comprise an inner tongue and an outer tongue, the inner tongue positioned so as to abut against a foot and under a vamp and/or quarter, and the outer tongue positioned so as to be positioned over the inner tongue or over the vamp and/or quarter. In a variation, the outer tongue is positioned so as to abut against the vamp and/or quarter of the shoe.

In an embodiment, the shoe comprises at least two tongues and at least two means of closing the shoe, said two means of closing the shoe comprising at least two zippers, said at least two tongues comprising an inner tongue and an outer tongue, the inner tongue positioned so as to abut against a foot of a wearer, the outer tongue positioned so as to abut against an outside surface of the inner tongue or the outside surface of a vamp and/or quarter, the two zippers comprising an inside zipper and an outside zipper, the inside zipper operationally connected to and positioned on an instep side of the vamp and/or quarter, the outer zipper operational connected to and positioned on the vamp and/or quarter on a side opposite the instep side.

In an embodiment, the shoe comprises at least two tongues and at least two means of closing the shoe, said two means of closing the shoe comprising at least two series of hook and loop strips, said two tongues comprising an inner tongue and an outer tongue, the inner tongue positioned so as to abut against a foot of a wearer, the outer tongue positioned so as to abut against an outside surface of the inner tongue or the outside surface of a vamp and/or quarter, the two series of hook and loop strips comprising an inside series of hook and loop strips and an outside series of hook and loop strips, the inside series of hook and loop strips operationally connected to and positioned on an instep side of the vamp and/or quarter, the outer series of hook and loop strips operational connected to and positioned on the vamp and/or quarter on a side opposite the instep side.

In a variation, the at least two zippers comprise a slider, elements, and a tape, wherein the slider and the elements are made of metal or plastic. In an embodiment, the shoe containing at least two series of hook and loop strips also comprise at least one zipper.

In an embodiment, the present invention also relates to methods of wearing shoes that comprise the shoes as described herein. The present invention also relates to methods of making the shoes with the features described herein.

It should be understood that the scope of the present invention allows any feature that is disclosed above to be combined with any other feature disclosed above (even if they are not discussed together). When ranges are given, it should be understood that any number that falls within that range is contemplated as an endpoint for a subrange within that number even if that subrange number is not disclosed. It should be understood that modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In any event, the invention is defined by the below claims. 

I claim:
 1. A shoe that comprises at least two tongues and at least two means of closing the shoe, said two means of closing the shoe comprising at least two zippers or at least two series of hook and loop strips.
 2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the at least two zippers comprise an inner zipper and an outer zipper, the inner zipper being positioned on an inner side of a quarter and/or vamp of a shoe and the outer zipper being positioned on the outer side of the quarter and/or vamp of the shoe, with both the inner zipper and the outer zipper being positioned in a direction where eyelets on a shoe typically reside.
 3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein a first series of hook and loop strips are positioned on an inner side of the shoe and a second series of hook and loop strips being positioned on an outer side of the shoe, the inner side of the shoe being on a side that is a side where an instep of a wearer is and the outer side of the shoe being on a side of the shoe where an outside of a foot is each of the first series of hook and loops strips and the second series of hook and loop strips being positioned in a location and direction where eyelets on a shoe typically reside.
 4. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the inner zipper and the outer zipper are positioned substantially vertically.
 5. The shoe of claim 4 wherein the inner zipper and the outer zipper each have a slider, elements, and a tape and when the inner zipper and outer zipper are zipped, the slider is near a top of the shoe.
 6. The shoe of claim 4 wherein the inner zipper and the outer zipper have a slider, elements, and a tape and when the inner zipper and outer zipper are zipped, the slider is near a bottom of the shoe.
 7. The shoe of claim 4, further comprising an additional zipper, which is at a back of the shoe.
 8. The shoe of claim 3, wherein hooks are present on a first hook and loop strip and loops are present on a second hook and loop strip, the first hook and loop strip and the second hook and loop strip positioned so that the first hook and loop strip and the second hook and loop strip attach to each other when pressed together.
 9. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the first series of hook and loop strips comprise a first hook and loop strip and a second hook and loop strip wherein the first hook and loop strip is on an inner surface of an outer tongue and the second hook and loop strip is on an outer surface of a vamp and/or quarter of the shoe.
 10. The shoe of claim 5, wherein the slider and elements are made of metal or plastic.
 11. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising an additional zipper or an additional series of hook and loop strips.
 12. The shoe of claim 11, further comprising the additional zipper.
 13. The shoe of claim 12, wherein the additional zipper is positioned at a back of the shoe.
 14. The shoe of claim 11, further comprising the additional series of hook and loop strips.
 15. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the at least two tongues comprise an inner tongue and an outer tongue, the inner tongue positioned so as to abut against a foot and under a vamp and/or quarter, and the outer tongue positioned so as to be positioned over the inner tongue or over the vamp and/or quarter.
 16. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the outer tongue is positioned so as to abut against the vamp and/or quarter of the shoe.
 17. A shoe comprising at least two tongues and at least two means of closing the shoe, said two means of closing the shoe comprising at least two zippers, said at least two tongues comprising an inner tongue and an outer tongue, the inner tongue positioned so as to abut against a foot of a wearer, the outer tongue positioned so as to abut against an outside surface of the inner tongue or the outside surface of a vamp and/or quarter, the two zippers comprising an inside zipper and an outside zipper, the inside zipper operationally connected to and positioned on an instep side of the vamp and/or quarter, the outer zipper operational connected to and positioned on the vamp and/or quarter on a side opposite the instep side.
 18. A shoe comprising at least two tongues and at least two means of closing the shoe, said two means of closing the shoe comprising at least two series of hook and loop strips, said two tongues comprising an inner tongue and an outer tongue, the inner tongue positioned so as to abut against a foot of a wearer, the outer tongue positioned so as to abut against an outside surface of the inner tongue or the outside surface of a vamp and/or quarter, the two series of hook and loop strips comprising an inside series of hook and loop strips and an outside series of hook and loop strips, the inside series of hook and loop strips operationally connected to and positioned on an instep side of the vamp and/or quarter, the outer series of hook and loop strips operational connected to and positioned on the vamp and/or quarter on a side opposite the instep side.
 19. The shoe of claim 18, wherein the at least two zippers comprise a slider, elements, and a tape, wherein the slider and the elements are made of metal or plastic.
 20. The shoe of claim 19, wherein the shoe also comprises at least one zipper. 